By Charlie Hughes, Senior Director Fire Installation, Johnson Controls 

Building occupant safety is never more critical than in a hospital where patients, visitors and staff trust that the environment is conducive to health and healing. On the counsel of an outside consulting firm, one regional hospital recognized the immediate need for upgrades to its existing fire sprinkler systems. The hospital needed to fill infrastructure gaps, deliver comprehensive fire mitigation across the facility and ensure that optimal egress pathways are available in an emergency. Without sprinklers in certain patient care areas, the hospital was facing safety concerns and increased insurance liabilities, the increasing cost of which could also negatively impact quality of patient care.

Ensuring full coverage with upgrades and additions

Not only was a lack of sprinklers in different areas of the hospital an immediate concern in the event of a fire, but this issue also forced occupants in those areas to evacuate in circuitous ways that were not the easiest path to safety. The Johnson Controls team met with the hospital’s construction and maintenance division dozens of times over the course of a year to ensure that the plans in place to improve the sprinkler system aligned with the hospital’s day-to-day operations.

As the general contractor on the project for fire and electric, Johnson Controls installed Tyco Raven sprinkler heads. These tamper-resistant units provide a quick response time with coverage designed for use in healthcare facilities and other commercial buildings. The team also implemented a new fire pump controller in collaboration with a local engineering firm, a new electrical transfer switch and four control assembly set-ups. Each of these solutions were connected for an immediate response when a fire is detected, no matter where occupants are within the facility.

Improved care, costs and compliance

The sprinkler system upgrades not only brought additional protection to all patient care areas but improved the safety and responsiveness of the system overall. As a result, the hospital has enjoyed lower insurance costs, freeing up funds to be redirected to bettering patient care and outcomes. The new system also meets the latest local fire safety codes and standards, decreasing the hospital’s risk of costly fines and penalties. Hospital leaders, staff, patients and loved ones can all now enjoy peace of mind that the hospital is well-equipped for safe evacuation should a fire occur.